Bears Quick Shots: Bears don’t give Aromashodu a chance to shine

Matt Trowbridge

Thursday

Dec 31, 2009 at 12:01 AMDec 31, 2009 at 4:53 AM

Head coach Lovie Smith and offensive coordinator Ron Turner say they’ve always liked Devin Aromashodu but just didn’t have anywhere to play him because Devin Hester, Earl Bennett and Johnny Knox were playing well.

Head coach Lovie Smith and offensive coordinator Ron Turner say they’ve always liked Devin Aromashodu but just didn’t have anywhere to play him because Devin Hester, Earl Bennett and Johnny Knox were playing well.

They could have made room. Aromashodu leads Chicago with 236 yards on 17 catches the last three weeks after having two catches the first 12 games. There’s room for four receivers on a team if you are willing to make room. The Bears weren’t. ESPN Stats & Information reports the Bears used three receivers for only 174 plays this season, third-fewest in the NFL. They played two tight ends 301 times, the third-most often. Chicago could have given DA a shot by pulling backup tight ends Desmond Clark or Kellen Davis more.

Bears need a safety fix

Quick Shots mentioned this before but will do so again now that Darren Sharper is contending for Defensive Player of the Year honors: Much of Chicago’s defensive problems could have been fixed with two easy safety solutions. The Bears should have kept free-agent Mike Brown (97 tackles, three interceptions with Kansas City) and signed either Sharper or Brian Dawkins. Sharper leads the NFL with three defensive TDs and his nine interceptions are tied for first. Dawkins has 108 tackles and two interceptions for Denver’s No. 5-rated defense.

Most teams ignore safeties more than any other position except punter and kicker, yet a great safety can transform a defense. The Steelers are 0-7 this year without All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu. The Bears start a rookie sixth-round draft pick (Al Afalava) and a third-year fifth-round pick (Kevin Payne) most of the year. They need two good safeties. They’ve got none.

A moving pocket

Jay Cutler said his learning curve has included “a transition period” with his offensive line.

“They had to get to know me, where I like to set up, how I like to move,” Cutler said. “It doesn’t happen over night. The last game, they moved the pocket some and guys made some big plays for us on the outside.”

Cutler has thrown only half as often outside the pocket this year as he did last season in Denver.

Cutler said he’s “good at” throwing on the run and getting “outside of the pocket where you can make some things happen,” but he added the Bears style of a “power running game” isn’t always “geared for” rollout passes.

“There’s definitely a time and place for it,” Cutler said. “We tried to dial it up (last week) as much as possible.”

Knox loses chance for title

Johnny Knox probably lost his chance to lead the NFL in kick returns when he sprained his left ankle Monday. Knox is unlikely to play Sunday in Detroit. He’s currently second in kick return average (29.0 yards), close behind Tampa Bay’s Clifton Smith (29.1), who is on injured reserve with a concussion.

“I’m happy with how the season went,” said Knox, who also has 527 yards receiving as a rookie. “That’s just something I’ll have to look forward to next year.”

Matt Trowbridge’s Quick Shots on the Bears appear Fridays. He can be reached at 815-987-1383 or mtrowbridge@rrstar.com.

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